11Blues: The Unofficial Chelsea Blog and News

Game Starts 19:45 London Time

Bolt for the Blues, the start of the Bolton week.

I say that because we host the Wanderers today and visit them at the weekend. So this can be easily labelled the Bolton week. In reality, Chelsea would be playing with virtually playing different squads for the two encounters. News is that a lot of players are being rested today.

This is the 4th Round of the Carling Cup, and generally the Round of Upsets. Honestly, Bolton scares me, specially after the 4-3 from 4-0 in April this year.

Ancelotti, as usual, takes the game pretty seriously. I love the way he hypes games up.

“It’s important because it’s the first final. It’s the first title and we have a good opportunity tomorrow. We will change some things but we will pick a very competitive team.”

Bolton Manager Gary Megson, was a little sarcastic when he said:

“We are not in the luxurious position of having two teams to choose from like some clubs are, but we’ll put out a strong team like we did in the previous rounds. We’ll do the same again, this is a major trophy and we want to win it. Everyone wants to win something at this club. We’ll be having a good go at it, we want to do as well as we can, irrespective of the fact we are playing them again in the league at the weekend.”

When asked about the repeat game for the Premiership at the weekend, he said:

“It won’t make any difference at all – it is not part of that preparation and it will have absolutely no bearing on the game on Saturday,

“I think if either team was using this as preparation, I think that would demean the Carling Cup a little bit.

“We want to go through, make no mistake about it, and I know Carlo will want to go through.

“Regardless of them wanting to win the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup, they will want to win this one as well – maybe not with the same priority as the other three but they will want to win it, I can assure you.”

Flue Attack

There were a lot of stories floating around about the Swine Flu scare in the Premier League and Blackburn (Chelsea’s Last Opponents) being one of the victims. Doesn’t it scare Ancelotti?

“I’m not worried. The flu is not only on the pitch, it’s everywhere. We take all the precautions and we want to think about playing, that’s it. We will do the same things we normally do. It’s not a problem and the players have stayed very well.”

When asked about his knowledge about swine flue remedies, he went on:

“I know very well what I have to do if I have the flu. It’s not a medical prescription. It’s my grandmother’s prescription — hot milk. Alcohol — red wine. Fantastic.”

HA!

Homecoming awaits Anelka as well, as he faces one of his ex-clubs.

Team News

John Terry, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are all rested. What it means is that Sturridge will get a chance to show the world what he is capable of doing.

CHELSEA (from): Hilario, Turnbull, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Deco, Ballack, Malouda, Sturridge, Kalou, J Cole, Essien, Bruma, Borini, Matic.

BOLTON (from): Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Ricketts, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, A O’Brien, Samuel, Robinson, M Davies, Basham, Muamba, Cohen, McCann, Gardner, Taylor, K Davies, Klasnic, Lee, Elmander.

That’s it for now. See you after the game. If you are online during the game, do catch up with me @11blues and don’t forget to follow.

Goalkeeping has always been a worry for Blackburn, as I tried to show in my morning post about them. Fortunately for them, it wasn’t a problem for them today. All the goals that Chelsea scored were un-saveable.

Confident after their 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, the Blues from Stamford Bridge beat an un-inspiring Blackburn Rovers 5 goals to nil in the 10th game of their Premiership Campaign.

Sam Allardyce’s side came to the Bridge hoping to, at max, salvage a point. What lay in store for them was a rejuvenated Chelsea side, bloating with the return of Joe Cole and the return to goal-scoring form of Frank Lampard.

Neither of them disappointed today, with Lampard scoring a goal and Cole playing really well in the centre. A very fluid centre, I might add. Carlo Ancelotti was back on time to be with the team as the game started, and he was mighty pleased with the result. He even waxed eloquent about his boys in blue after the game. More about what he said a little while later.

The Goals

The first goal was in the 19th minute. Ballack passed a great ball to the left where Anelka was in a great position and space. He slid it across and before Drogba could get to it, Givet of Blackburn did, and went down in history as on the most proactive own goals

In the 47th minute, just after the second half began, Lampard scored his second open play goal in 4 days, a great strike from 12 yards to an almost open goal – a result of sloppy clearing

Essien was in the mood today. All the talk that long range shots should be avoided seemed like fables to him as he curled one in from about 35 yards at 51 minutes into the game, a treat to watch for everyone except the goalkeeper.

Didier Drogba did his bit and fell inside the D to a tackle by Nelsen ensuring a penalty. Lampard netted in his second for the evening. The time was at 58 minutes

Anelka played brilliantly today, so did everyone including the subs Bruma, Sturridge and Ferreria. None of them scored any goals though, but Drogba did, heading in a Ballack corner at 63 minutes.

Alas, there were no more goals. Wait till we travel to Bolton on the 31st.

Managers’ Quote:

Ancelotti:

"I was impressed with Joe because I know very well how hard he has worked in the last month,

He is a great professional and after 10 months it is not easy for Joe to play like he did. It was a surprise and I am happy for him.

"Joe is a very important player for us. He has fantastic quality in midfield. He is a genius.

"Chelsea played very well and it is not easy to play against us when we put great quality on the pitch. Blackburn did what they could.

"After the defeat against Aston Villa last week we had a good solution about the set-plays. We had a strong defence from set-plays today. We have improved very quick and very well.

"I think it was the best performance since I came here but we have played well in other games.

"I liked this game very much. We played very well and it was a pleasure to see the team play like this.

"We had to pay attention because when you are 1-0 up we know that in football things can happen and it is not a sure result. But at half-time, I asked my team to score more.

"It has been a difficult time but this is life. I hope my father will be better in the next day.

"Tomorrow I have a free day and will go back to Italy and return on Monday but I think my father will be better.

"These are difficult days but after Monday I think he will be better and I can stay here without problems."

Stats:

Chelsea (4-diamond-2): Cech; Belletti (Ferreira 60), Carvalho (Bruma 66), Terry (c), Ivanovic; Essien; Ballack, Lampard; J Cole (Sturridge 76); Anelka, Drogba.
Scorers Givet o.g. 19, Lampard 47, 58 (pen), Essien 51, Drogba 63.

Blackburn (4-1-4-1): Robinson; Jacobsen (Salgado 59), Givet, Nelsen (c), Olsson; N’Zonzi; Diouf, Andrews, Emerton, Pedersen (Hoilett 68); Roberts (Kalinic 51).
Booked Pedersen 45

That’s it for now. Good night blues.

After the emphatic win against Atletico Madrid, the blues take on 13th place Blackburn Rovers today at Stamford Bridge. If you want to be there, hurry up. Match starts at 1730 UK time.

Looks like manager Carlo Ancelotti will not be available for this game, as he was away tending to his Dad Giuseppe’s illness away at Reggiolo, Italy. That also happens to be the place Carlo calls home. In Ray Wilkins though, Chelsea have a capable contingency manager. There are also chances that his flight might land well in time for the game. It is Blackburn anyway.

Ha! If you think I am getting a bit over-confident about our chances, you might be mistaken. Everything I do is to ensure that the blues win. Not one to believe in superstitions, but when I was a little circumspect of our chances in the last two away games, the team proved me right by losing both of them in pretty embarrassing defensive circumstances. Hence, the brashness.

Coming back to the game, Joe Cole seems to have recovered as well as he could ever hope to recover. He could be playing against The Riversiders managed by Sam Allardyce, whose past achievements include winning the premiership back in 1994-95 and winning the FA Cup in 1884,1885,1886,1890,1891 and1928. Allardyce’s great-great-great grandpa would have been a very proud man.

Wilkin’s time in the Sun

With Ancelotti not available, it was Wilkins’ turn to play up small games. Here is what he said, in usual Manager aplomb:

"We have got a massive game against Blackburn tomorrow and as far as the transfer situation is concerned I am not overly concerned about that.

"It would be very pleasant to be able to bring people in because we lose some influential players in Kalou, Drogba, Essien and Mikel, but we have a squad here that is more than capable of coping with that situation.

"If we are able to bring people in then all well and good and if we are not, we’ll just crack on with what we have got.”

He forgot to talk about the game at hand except the part when he called Blackburn as MASSIVE game. Blah!

From the Blackburn side

Sam Allardyce also seemed unconcerned about the game. He did not even talk about the game. All he talked about was how Ireland Coach Giovanni Trapattoni was wrong by claiming that Steven Reid’s injury was incurable.

"It’s disgraceful, completely out of order.

"He’s not talking correctly in terms of Steven’s injury. What he’s saying is completely untrue and something he should apologise for.

"He’s undermined us as a football club, undermined Steven as a player and he has really been very, very naughty in what he has said.

"He should make a public apology and hopefully that will be the end of it.

"Steven’s had a long haul and he’s trying to resurrect his career and secure a new contract. He also wants to go and play for his country as he has done many, many times and given his all on every occasion.

"There’s no player more honest than Steven and to be dealt that sort of a blow at this stage, when he’s not feeling the best, trying to come back from a big injury and picking up another little niggle, is very disrespectful to say the least. It’s disgusting.”

Poor Stevie. He might be crying in some corner somewhere.

Teams

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Belletti, Hutchinson, Bruma, Essien, Lampard, J Cole, Ballack, Malouda, Deco, Kalou, Drogba, Sturridge, Anelka, Borini

Blackburn (from): Paul Robinson, Lars Jacobsen, Christopher Samba, Gaël Givet, Ryan Nelsen, Brett Emerton, David Dunn, Jason Roberts, Benni McCarthy, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steven N’Zonzi, Keith Andrews, El Hadji Diouf, Elrio van Heerden, Martin Olsson, Nikola Kalini?, David Hoilett, Míchel Salgado, Phil Jones, Gavin Gunning, Jason Brown, Maceo Rigters

That’s it for now. See you after the game.

PS: I predict 2-0 to Chelsea. What about you? Let me know by commenting.

Just woke up, and what is the first thing that comes to my mind? Blackburn of course. Just as I Blackburned my way out of the Blackburn-shaped bed, the Blackburning shouts of my totally non-blackburn Labrador Retreiver Blackburn my ears.

So Blackburn haters, there is some more blackburning food for burning black:

David James time travelled to a long time back and invented the term “butter fingers”

Put the Bunn in the oven
Bunn in the oven
Put the bunn in the oven
whatever the hell that means

Q. How many Blackburn Goalkeepers do you need to change a lightbulb?
A. Get as many as you want. The bulb is going to slip out of their hands.

What the deuce! After all the talk about being awesome against Atletico Madrid, and be all set and raring to go in an AWAY fixture, all we get is Blackburn at Home. There is only so much that an average fan can take.

Did you know that Blackburn invented the FA Cup? After that, they went about their usual business of not winning it. (except in 5 impossible instances)

Ray Wilkins is a distant relative of Luke Skywalker. True Story.

Look at what happens at a usual Blackburn game:

So by now you must be all set for a great game in store. If not, read this post again.

I see most of you are not following us on twitter. Please do so, to be sure of the fact that we are friends and/or enemies. Follow us @11blues.

And don’t forget to be a Facebook fan. We need at least a lot of fans to breathe.

Chelsea take on Atlético Madrid in what will be their third UEFA Champions League Group Stage fixture. Here is what the table looks like right now:

And here is what it SHOULD look like after today’s game:

No, I am not giving any goodies if you spot the mistakes, though if you did take pains to do so, you would have found out that the predicted score line here at 11blues is 3-1 to Chelsea. Hurrah!

Preparations for Atlético Madrid

Apart from worrying about our Mascot, Stamford the Lion getting kidnapped, the lads also had to worry about a minor thing known as defending. It seems they have worked on it. Here’s what Ballack had to say:

John’s reaction on the pitch showed how dramatic defensive shortcoming can be made out to be. Talking about shortcomings, Deco might have a role to play today, with the absence of Didier.

Oh, my bad. Quoted out of context. Here is what he actually said:

That’s what you need, emotions like that, to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We speak with each other. We have no problem criticising each other in the dressing room. A good team with strong players has to do this.

"We’ve done that, then we shake hands and get back on to the training pitch and try to do better.

"I wasn’t involved, not in the team, but I know the problem. I was there the next day and we spoke about it. Everybody has to make an impact on the situation, me too.

"I have to do this, not just because of my age. I have a few years behind me and have experienced a few situations. I’m experienced, so I have to speak to help the team. Everybody has to take responsibility, otherwise we will concede more goals.”

So at least someone is serious. Rather, someone is TALKING serious. All the seriousness in preparation would be tested against a desperate Athletico Madrid, a site so desperate to be accepted, it isn’t even the best club in its city.

I would be coming up with a few interesting things about Ath Mad in the following post, but this one is for the serious stuff. Or so it seems.

Teams

Chelsea

Drogba is suspended of course. Ballack should return after all that talk, and Bosingwa is still injured. Alex is also not yet fit. So the line-up should be from:

Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Belletti, Hutchinson, Bruma, Essien, Lampard, J Cole, Ballack, Malouda, Zhirkov, Deco, Kalou, Sturridge, Anelka, Borini

Atlético Madrid

Well, no one’s telling me. So you will have to wait for this thing.

Tactical Suggestion: PLEASE DEFEND SET-PIECES BETTER

That’s all in this preview. Catch the game at 1945 UK time.

I would be live tweeting about the game. Catch all the action @11blues.

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